Thermostatically-controlled valve



Feb. 18, 1930. Q F. E. ASELTlNE 1 1 THERMOS TAT I CALLY C ONTROLLEDVALVE Filed March 29, 19 27 gwuwntor Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITEDSTATES FRED E. ASELTINE, OF DAYTON, OHIO TEEBMOSTATICALLY-CONTROLLEDApplication filed March 29, 1927. Serial No. 179,864.

This invention relates to a temperature controlled valve andparticularly to such a valve adapted to be used in a water circulatingsystem of an automobile.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a simple andefficient, thermostatically controlled valve unit, that may becompletely assembled and properly adjusted before being inserted into afluid conduit.

Another object is to provide a thermostatically controlled valve inwhich friction is reduced to a minimum and in which any sediment,contained in the fluid passing through the valve, is substantiallyprevented from acculating, such accumulation tending to obstruct thefree movement of the operating parts.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a prev ferred embodiment of one form of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawin Fig; 1 is a i r agmentary sectional view taken along theline 11 of Fig. 2, and showing the valve unit mounted in a two-partconduit; I

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 o f Fig. 1, the valve beingshown in half-open position;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the apertured disc member;

1Fig. t is an inverted plan view of the valve p ate;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the bridging member whichsupports the endthrust bearing; and

Fig. 6 is a side view of the member shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 20 designates a sleeve-likefixture, which may form a part of or be attached to the radiator of aninternal combustion engine (not shown) A flapg'e 21 provided on thisfixture has screw-thre d apertures for receiving screw studs 24 whichpass through apertures in the flan e 22 of the hose-receivin connection23, said studs, when tightene clamping the two flanges 21 and 22 tightlytogether.

i The gasket 25 is placed between the two flanges to prevent a fluidleak at this point. The adjacent inner edges of the members 20 and 23are counterbored as at 26 and 27 respectively to provide a recess withinthe passage formed by said members.

The valve unit comprises a disc 28, the outer edge of which fits snuglyinto the recess formed by the counterbores 26 and 27, clamping of theflan es 21 and 22 securely holding said disc there etween so as to form.a partition wall in the passage. An aperture 29 is provided centrally ofthe disc so as to be substantially coaxial with the passage. In thiscentral aperture is journalled the shaft 30 which extends from each sideof the disc. A plurality of apertures is shown to be trian lar information withthe converging si es pointing toward the center, but whichmay be a of any suitable shape, are rovided in the disc in substantiallycircular ormation about the aperture 29. Four of these apertures 31 areshown in the present drawings; it is, however, obvious that any numberof such apertures may be provided. An extension or ridge 32 is providedon the disc, about the edges of the apertures 31, said ridge blendinginto and being flush with the hub 33. As shown in Fig. 1,'-the face ofthe ridge is comparatively narrow, the side wall ther'eoi slopingoutwardly and toward the main body of the disc.

A post 35 is carried by the disc and extends therefrom, said postroviding an anchoring, means for one end 0 the thermostatic element 36shown in the form of a. spiral, the opposite end thereof being securedto the shaft 30. This thermostatic element will, at increasingtemperatures, rotate the shaft in one direction and at a decrease intemperature the rotation is in the opposite direction. In the Fig. 1 thearrow indicates the direction of the flow of water, and it may be seenthat the thermostatic element will be engaged b the water asit is beingwarmed up and clrculatedby the engine so that the increased temperatureof the water will cause the thermostat to rotate the shaft to open thevalve.

The portion of the shaft extending from the side of the disc oppositethe thermostatic element 36, is provided with a. keyway 37, the 1 innerend of which is flush with the surface of the hub. portion 33 when theshaft is' shaft. Radiating from the hub 41 are a plurality of valveblades 43, similarly shaped and spaced, and equal in number to theapertures 31 of the disc. When in one position these blades are adaptedto cover and close the said apertures. A ridge 44 is provided ad'acentthe edge of each of said blades, said ri ge being substantially equal inwidth to the ridge 32 of the disc and being adapted to coincide with andsubstantially engage said 5 ridge 32 when the valve plate is in theaperture closing position. To maintain the valveplate in pro er positionon the shaft, a collar 45 is place thereupon and secured thereto by apin :46, said collar engaging the outer aosurface of the valve hub 41.

I s The indent in the end'of the shaft forms vone seat forthe ball,end-thrust bearing 48, the other seat forthis bearing being provided. byanindent in the block 49 which is 35 supported by the bridging member50.: This member 50 has two leg portions, whose ends are reduced so asto provide: shoulders which {rest against the disc when the reduced endportions are inserted into the openings 51 in the disc. The ends ofthese leg portions iare riveted over the opposite side of the disc,

thereby securely fastening the bridging mem- ,ber' to said disc. The les of the bridging ,member lie in the path 0% movement of the rotatablevalve-plate 40, and are so positioned on the disc that they will act'asstops for said valve-plate, to-limit the movement thereof in eitherdirection. When rotated in the closing direction, one side of the valve-50 plate-will engage the legs so that the blades thereof will bemaintained in the proper aperture closing position. This will preventfurther movement thereof by the thermostat when the-temperature of thewater drops be- 55 low a predetermined limit. .When rotating.

in the opposite direction, the legs 1fivill prevent the valvelate frompassing eyo'nd a full open position, thereby preventing said valve-plateto be rotated again to close the apertures b a continuous movement inthis same directlo The block 49 is so adjusted on the bridging niemberthat a clearance of substantially one or two-thousandths-of an inch isprovided between the valve-plate and es the disc. This clearanceprovides for leaki nated by the numeral 401 and comprises an age pastthe valve while it is still closed, permitting a limited circulation ofwater by the engine while it is warming up.

In-the Figs. 5 and 6, which show modified forms of. the bridging member50, said member is provided with a central hub portion 50, having ascrew-threaded aperture for receiving the adjustable end-thrust bearingscrew 52. The inner end of this screw is pointed so that its engagementwith the end of the shaft" 30 is substantially frictionless.

The nut 53 .is provided on said screw and may be loosened to permitadjustment of the screw so that it will maintain the valve plate inproper relative position with the disc.

The ridges 32 and 44 provided respectively on the disc and valveblades,offer minimum cooperative surfacesbetween these members and therebyreduce friction therebetween to a substantial minimum. Ordinarilyfriction may be caused by accumulation upon the surfaces of the ridges.This type of structure however substantially eliminates the accumulationof any silt or sediment that may be contained in the fluid passingthrough the valves, and which by accumulating between the valve anddisc, will tend to prevent free movement of the operating parts.

In the accompanying drawings the valve is illustrated as having fourfluid passages which are fully openwhen the temperature of the valvereaches a proper degree. With four apertures in the disc, the valveplate must necessarily rotate through 45 degrees to fully open thevalve. To obtain this movement within a predetermined range oftemperature variations, it has been found that a thermostatic element ofa predetermined length must be provided. In order to provide forcompactness, the element is wound in the form of a spiral.

One advantage of the present invention re-.

sides in the fact that by increasing the number of fluid passages andtherefore necessarily increasing the number of valve blades, the degreeof movement-to fully open said valve is substantially reduced,consequently a reduction in the length of the thermostatic elementobtains. However when it is desired to provide a valve which will beopened fully within a comparatively small range of temperaturevariations, or which will be operated substantially positivelyregardless of the conditions of the water as to its cleanliness,

the number of water passages in the valve may be increased as mentionedabove, to decrease the necessary degree of movement for f 11' openingthereof. To assure this substantially positive movement under/the lastmen- .tioned condition, the thermostatic element may be of a size as isused in connection with a valve having a lesser numberof water pas sagesand a greater degree of travel, said tleermostatic. element thusproviding a susand operably stantially vided on said disc about theedges of the apertained and greater force to meet the requirements.

It will be seen that the valve may be assembled and adjusted before itis inserted into the water conduit, thus greatly facilitating thecommercial production thereof for varying designs of engines havinghowever the same temperature characteristics.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is as follows: a

1. A unitary device of the character described, comprisin incombination, an apertured disc; a'sha rotatably supported by said disc;a valve-plate secured to said shaft, on one side of the disc, andproviding a cover for the aperture therein; a thermostatic elementmounted upon the other side of the disc connected to rotate the shaftupon variation in temperature; and a substantially frictionless bearingmember supported on the disc and engaging the end of the shaft beyondsaid valve plate to hold the valve-plate in engagement with the disc.

2. A device of the character described, comprising in combination, anaperture'd disc; a shaft rotatably supported by said disc; a valve-platesecured to said shaft on one side of the disc, and providing a cover forthe aperture therein; a thermostatic element mounted on the other sideof the disc and connected to the shaft; a bridging member mounted on thedisc and providing a stop normally holding the valve-plate in apertureclosing position; and an end-thrust bearing supported by said memberqandengaging the end of the shaft to maintain the valveplate in disc enga'nglposition.

3. Adevi'ce of t iac aracter described, comprisin in combination, anapertured disc; a she rotatably supported by said disc; a valve platesecured to said shaft on one side of the disc, and providing a cover forthe aperture therein; a thermostatic element mounted on the other sideof the disc and connected to the shaft; a bridgingmember mounted on thedisc and providing a stop normally holding the.valvelate in apertureclosing osition; and an a justable, substantially frictionlessend-thrust hearing carried b said member and engaging the end of the siaft to maintain thevalve-plate in disc ena 'n sition. g E difvice ofthe character described, comprising in combination, a disc having acentral aperture and a plurality of apertures arranged about saidcentral aperture in sub" circular formation; a ridge pro tures therein;a shaft journalled in the central aperture of the disc;-a valve-platesecured'to said valve plate cgmpris- T disc, a

nected ing a hub portion and blades equal in number to the apertures inthe dlSO; a ridge formed adjacent the edges of the valve blades andadapted to coincide with and engage the ridge provided on the disc whenthe valveplate is in normal aperture closing position; a thermostaticmember in the form of a spiral spring having one end secured to thedisc, the other end being fastened to the shaft, said member actuatingthe shaft to valve-plate closing position at proper low temperatures andoperating said shaft to valve-opening position at proper, highertemperatures; a bridging member secured to the disc and adapted to stopthe valve-plate in aperture closing position when operated in the onedirection; and an end-thrust bearing on said member for maintaining thevalve-plate in disc engaging position.

5. A device of the character described, comprising in combination, adisc having apertures provided about a central hub portion, saidapertures being surrounded by comparatively narrow ridges formed on thedisc, said ridges blending into and being substantially flush with theone surface of the hub portion of said disc, a shaft rotatably supportedin a passage formed in the hub ofthe disc, a shutter carried by theshaft and having sliding contact with the face of the ridges on the discand .a thermostatic member in the form of a spiral sprin having one endsecured to the shaft, and t e other end anchored to the disc, whereby tocontrol the'position of said shutter according to the temperature.

6. A unitary thermostat device adapted to be inserted as a unit in'apreadjusted condition in a duct to control the flow therethroughaccording to temperature conditions, said device comprisin a disc havingvalve openings therein and a apted to be fixed within said duct, a shaftmounted in an aperture in said valve shutter fixed to said shaft andhaving sliding contact with one face of said disc and adapted to controlthe valve openings therein, an end thrust bearing engaging the end ofthe shaft to maintain the valve shutter in sliding engagement with thedisc, a bearing supporting member on said disc, and a thermostat elementmounted upon the opposite face of said disc and operably conto rotatesaid shaft upon variation in temperature,

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

FRED E. ASELTINE.

